Thoughts? Steinjager bought Ace Engineering assets

[Caspien]

I was unaware of the sale. I ordered my rock sliders on June 25th. I reached out to them this week and on July 6th I got an update saying, "we're about 4 weeks out on your order". The email was signed John but the address line in the email says Nick Ellis. I don't know why the 2 different names but I hope the 4 weeks is accurate

Likely because all of the original emails were going to Nick, at ACE, and John is the VP at Steinjager, and has been the one answering everyone's emails.

I will say, Ace's prices have gone significantly northward in the last few weeks... BUT, they're offering 'free shipping' now.

Basically, the overall, is that they're about $100 more expensive, now. But, at least if/when they have % sales, it'll knock more off the overall price. (Since the shipping is already factored into the price)

The DOWNSIDE, as my wife just pointed out, is that since they're IN STATE for me, I'm guaranteed to incur the crappy sales tax, now, too.




~ Casp

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[heftysmurf]

Week 8….crickets

 

[mtudb24]

This news bums me out as ACE was literally 5 miles from my house. Sad to hear them being bought out.

 

[TheRealGinjaNinja]

This news bums me out as ACE was literally 5 miles from my house. Sad to hear them being bought out.

Indeed...going with other vendors for my gladiator needs. Still running the ACE front bumper and trail doors since they transferred over from my JLUR ;-)

Cheers

 

[Caspien]

Just got an update from John at Steinjager on my order (sliders)... looks like they're still 2 weeks out from having it complete.. which puts them 1 week past the original timeframe given by John, and waaay outside of the 4 weeks given by Ace.

*Sigh*

 

[heftysmurf]

Just got an update from John at Steinjager on my order (sliders)... looks like they're still 2 weeks out from having it complete.. which puts them 1 week past the original timeframe given by John, and waaay outside of the 4 weeks given by Ace.

*Sigh*

I'm sorry to hear that. This is absolutely terrible business the way they went out. I almost canceled my order today but holding off for the 10 week mark.

 

[Caspien]

I'm sorry to hear that. This is absolutely terrible business the way they went out. I almost canceled my order today but holding off for the 10 week mark.

Yeah, if they stick to the time frame that John gave me today.. it'll be right at the 10 week mark, here.


~Casp

 

[Calvinomics]

I ordered early June. Haven’t heard anything. Can someone DM me John’s email address?

 

[Caspien]

Approaching 10 weeks. Reached out to John, on Monday night. Haven't heard anything back, yet.

Ordered last weekend of May.

Crossing my fingers... But not holding my breath.



~ Casp

 

[Smess]

I have a brand new set available if you are intrested. They are listed on member market place for sale.

 

[heftysmurf]

Approaching 10 weeks. Reached out to John, on Monday night. Haven't heard anything back, yet.

Ordered last weekend of May.

Crossing my fingers... But not holding my breath.



~ Casp

lord. yesterday was 9 weeks for me.Shop I ordered from called and said, “3-4 more weeks”. I’m going to hold off a bit before going bananas since Rona is still thriving but I can say I’ll never order from them again.

 

[Caspien]

Heard from John, today. I'll be picking mine up, later this week, from their shop.

Will post photos of them, for those that were wondering if build quality is changing, after I pick them up. (and, obviously, after they're installed)


~ Casp

 

[heftysmurf]

Heard from John, today. I'll be picking mine up, later this week, from their shop.

Will post photos of them, for those that were wondering if build quality is changing, after I pick them up. (and, obviously, after they're installed)


~ Casp

Woo hoo! that's rad! Today is 10 the 10 week mark and I e-mailed him at the nick@ace e-mail and nothing...Nothing either from my e-mail 2 weeks ago. I really hope you get your goodies and they're awesome!

 

[Caspien]

Alright... so I've returned from the Steinjager/Ace Engineering manufacturing plant, just now... and I gotta say, I'm actually feeling better, now, than I was before this whole thing.

After chatting with John, and their foreman, Steinjager has actually gotten all of Ace's equipment added to their already insane amount of manufacturing machines, and have been working on the rather significant number of backordered ACE parts. We got to see the entire process, from essentially start to finish, and can 100% confirm they're producing a rather substantial amount of parts.

How many? Well, here's a few photos:

These are JUST finsihed and unfinished sliders, upperdeckers, and bed racks. These aren't even the photos of the Ace bumpers, and all of the other parts they've got stocked.

The entire process is fascinating, watching everything that goes into making the parts, really sort of puts it all into perspective. In the first photo, the 2 guys in the back are actually packing up my sliders, there... which was also a rather amazing packing job. They're discussing moving away from the expanding foam packing method, since, due to the weight of the parts, the foam isn't really sturdy enough. So, they're currently using a wooden frame method for shipping (note, I told them they didn't have to be super careful with the packing.. I actually was just expecting to grab the sliders, themselves, and toss them in the back.. lol:

What you can't see in the photo, is that the wooden frame actually consists of 3 layers of framing... so the frame is like this:

FRAME
SLIDER
FRAME
SLIDER
FRAME

SO the sliders don't really even come into contact with the outside of the box.

As for the shipping home, finding a way to lock them down, was actually a non-issue, due to the frame inside the box. Just ran ratcheting straps from one of the front bed hooks, around the end of the wooden frame (cut a hole in the box) and then back around to the other front bed hook.

3 hour trip, no shifting.

As for installation photos, the plan is to install them, this weekend, perhaps.


Now, as for the business side of things, I was told they're likely going to keep the Ace and Steinjager brand, simply due to the fact they are 2 separate types of parts, and the goal is to add more rugged heavy duty parts to the Ace brand.. basically, they don't want to pollute either brand with the other.

Fun fact, too... apparently Steinjager is an offshoot brand for the company, originally designed to keep the workers productive, when their commercial business ebbs and flows. They're ISO certified, and their primary business, has always been building parts for large scale construction and farming equipment. (CAT and Deere, are 2 series of commercial parts being manufactured while there)

All in all.. definitely feeling better about the acquisition, now, than before


~ Casp

 

[heftysmurf]

All in all.. definitely feeling better about the acquisition, now, than before


~ Casp

Not all heroes wear capes, bro! THANK YOU for that. It really does make me feel a bit better and I am impressed with what I see in these pics, versus their website. So yeah, next time I'm in St. Louis, beer is on me!

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